The digital transformation examples above feature a consistent reduction of friction in operations, product development, training, customer engagement, marketing, sales, and support. This is generally accomplished by streamlining clunky, disjointed processes, eliminating waste, and making new connections fast. But digital transformation initiatives go beyond just digital innovation and getting teams trained on how to use them. Digital transformation is about changing how business is done — including how to be more effective and efficient.

Businesses need to be able to strike an effective balance between digital and legacy skills, to keep their workforces engaged and business practices effective. They must also keep their company ethos, their raison d’être, to avoid alienating stakeholders who are vital for their success. Netflix is a key example of a company that has effectively harnessed digital technology and cultivated a company-wide mindset to embrace innovation and stay ahead of the curve. From renting DVDs and games to customers via mail in the early noughties, the company swiftly changed tack to make streaming its go-to service for customers.

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A thorough understanding of the distinction between digitalization and digital transformation will enable you to navigate the complexities of the digital world. It also helps you allocate organization resources effectively, adopt appropriate technologies, make strategic decisions, and implement solutions that align with your unique business objectives.

Just look at Blockbuster Video for a prime example of digital transformation failure. Create an integrated vision beyond just technology, and deliver it with powerful and consistent messaging that brings people along on the journey.

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This approach represents a first attempt at creating a schema, so it won’t be 100% correct, Flinchum noted. Adaptivity refers to an organization’s capacity to restructure while still remaining secure . Adaptivity is about incorporating new systems with speed while also staying alert to newer, potentially more effective systems. Part of the allure of visiting a museum is the ability to aimlessly walk through exhibits and lose track of time.

“More accurate insights provided by AI can enhance the effectiveness of digital transformation initiatives by offering precise data-driven guidance.” AI works best when a business follows digital transformation best practices and has implanted organizational change management, he added. “We believe generative AI will be a game changer for digital transformation,” a Fujitsu spokesman said. He said the cocreated AI technology “can respond quickly to the changing business environment in a VUCA world.” Once you know these , you can start to pick the key performance indicators that will guide your investments and let you know if you’re making progress. If you define success this way, measuring digital transformation is very straightforward. A fundamental issue across these roadblocks is lack of digital mindset.

How AI improves digital transformation

These trends indicate digital transformation initiatives are evolving at a fast pace. As this is a complex and ongoing process, it is essential for businesses to understand leading digital technologies and key trends. In this way, businesses are able to invest in the right technology and skill, thus positioning themselves for success in the years to come. Ultimately, the combination of digital transformation and digitalization generates a development cycle.

Without decision-makers at the top to greenlight critical moves—like bringing in a new hire or team to modernize an outdated CMS, for example—progress will stagnate. With executive support, the organization can kick off a digital pilot project, like converting a single, minor business function to digital. Once confidence around a successful digital initiative is established, the organization can move forward with more experimental and bold projects.

For instance, as shown above, HubSpot’s Sales Hub can be used to organize all of your sales materials online. Within the platform, you can manage deals, filter contacts, and create different tasks using a dashboard to help you keep track of your sales processes. Creating a blog during week five will help you find your target audience online. Posts should be about your target market (if you’re a tech marketing company, posts should center around the intersection between the two) to demonstrate your expertise.

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